1. All this stuff is not a-ok for the earth: Check out the video below – which by the way, is an older Buy Nothing Day ad (hence them saying Buy Nothing Day is the 26th – it’s really the 27th this year, but the ad is still relevant. Also, this ad was banned by all the major TV networks who said it was too controversial. You can listen to what tv networks said about this commercial at Buy Nothing Day – most thought it was too much for the average American, yet we see half naked girls, violence, and bad language on TV all the time – lame.

2. The deals just aren’t that great: C-NET, my favorite site for researching tech gear before I buy, dishes on why the tech deals aren’t so spectacular on Black Friday.

3. Black Friday is set up to screw you over: Really it is. The fine print is lame and most people waiting in line, in the cold, won’t score the deals you see in the ads – read Dirty secrets of Black Friday ‘doorbusters’ to learn more.

4. Lines suck – get around it: You don’t have to wait in lines to get a good deal. Amazon is making it easier for you to skip the lines by rounding up the best Black Friday deals in town then offering similar limited time deals at their site.

5. There are better deals online: Cyber Monday or even online Black Friday deals are a much better choice if you must shop than in-store Black Friday. You’ll spend less, save more, and no driving is involved. Find the best online Black Friday deals.

6. Shopping doesn’t save money in the long run: However, some other activities you could be doing on Black Friday will fatten your wallet.

7. Stores play all sorts of games to trick you into spending more cash: It’s much easier to fall for these tricks when the store is overcrowded and insane.

Skip Black Friday or don’t but at least read the above before you head out so that you’ll be better prepared for what’s really going on.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Black Friday is typically a hugely crowded shopping day, not only does this waste, not save time, but you also waste gas searching for parking and may be much more prone to impulse buys. Stores lure you in with the promise of 10 special items on sale, but by the time you get there the items may well be gone. Spend the day relaxing with the family, then save money on your holiday shopping with other, better, more sanity saving tactics, such as…

Sign up for special deals – many online stores offer many special holiday savings, but you need to sign up for their newsletters ad special offer emails.

Comparison shop online – you can easily compare prices and shop around for the best deal online, without the crowds, without the driving, without the bad weather and without the cranky salespeople. Look for deals on shipping though, not all sites offer free shipping, and so it pays to look around.

Wait – Black Friday may seem like a super good deal, but many stores have bigger and better sales closer to the actual holidays. Personally I’m not a last minute type of shopper, but if you’re ok with that, you can save a lot by simply holding off until the second to last week before Christmas.

Don’t wait – in a tactic related to the above, with a twist, shop before Black Friday. Prices will be a little (ONLY a little) more but good luck trying to find hot ticket items after Black Friday. According to Smart Money, retailers are stocking less goods this year, so seriously weigh saving a couple of bucks with maybe not getting the gift of your choice.

Spend the day making homemade holiday gifts – you get to spend time with your family and save a ton of cash in the process. If you need some tips about the best gifts to make visit the following links…

• Green & Homemade Gift Ideas
• Nine DIY play kitchen options
• Homemade garden gifts
• Homemade eco-gifts for the holidays
• 24 Things To Make – A Crafty Christmas Countdown
• Homemade Chai Mix
• 50 Holiday Things You Can Make Yourself

[image via Adbusters]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

So tell us what you found.  I bet you guys found some awesome deals as well.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I do have to say that I didn’t see as many good deals as I thought I would have found though.  I was looking around and didn’t see a recession where I was.  The stores were just as crowded as they were last year.  But I did notice that the deals that we did find ended at 1 pm on Friday.  Very interesting.

So how did you do on Cyber Monday?  Any good deals you want to share? I pretty much finished my shopping on Friday so I didn’t need to get on for Cyber Monday.  Let us know what you found.  We always want to celebrate a great deal.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

We headed out and our first stop was Wal-Mart.  I had no circular for Wal-Mart so I had no clue what was on sale.  There were palettes of sweatshirts and pajamas.  People were digging through them like crazy.  It was tempting to get Alligator girl a set of pajamas, but seriously she does not need any and truthfully, they looked really cheap.  I did settle on a hooded fleece Lightning McQueen sweatshirt for Cuddlebug.  It was $4.  While at Wal-Mart, we also picked up some of the dvds that were $2-3.  I was pleased that I got a coat for Cuddlebug for $8.  His old coat from last year is a size 2T-3T and it isn’t oversized like most coats.

When we first arrived at Wal-Mart, it was pretty quiet.  It was about 4:50 am and many people were just standing in the aisles with their carts and waiting.  I had no clue what they were lined up for, but at 5 am it got really loud and then I saw people grabbing tvs like crazy.  Their tvs were at an awesomely low price.  Too bad I didn’t have the extra money.  Maybe next year.

Next, we headed to Target.  They didn’t open until 6 am and it was insane!  People were lined up down the sidewalk for quite a ways.  The line even stretched up to the next largest store in the plaza.  There were hundreds of people in line.  The Target associates were outside passing out maps of the key items they had on sale.  I head an associate say that there were only a few navigation systems and a limited amount of Guitar Hero games. 

We waited in line for 15 minutes, but it seemed like a lot longer.  Then people started smoking.  Ahhhh!  (Warning: rant) Do you really need a cigarette at 6 am and no matter if you’re smoking outside or not, the people around you are still affected by it.  Goodness, don’t get me started.  It just burns me up! 

Finally, at 6 am they opened the doors.  The line moved into the store rather quickly.  Before I got into the store, some people from the parking lot starting walking up to the entrance, as if there wer going to cut in front of people that had been standing out there waiting.  Not smart, people.  Whew!  There could have been a serious  fight out there.  Thankfully, we made it in safely.  By the time I got into the store, some people were already in line paying for their purchases. 

The first thing we grabbed was hubby’s House dvds.  We got all 3 seasons.  Hooray!  Then we walked around and got some other dvd deals.  This is the time of year when I buy dvds for myself.  I just can’t stomach paying full price for them.  I got P.S. I Love You and a few others.  I also got a pair of Black & Decker rechargeable scissors for my dad.  I got a pair of them as a gift a few years ago and they are wonderful!  I thought my dad could use a pair too.  They were on sale for $15.  I got dad a few dvds too.  Oh, I got Happy Feet for the kids.  I think it was $3.98, or something like that.

We got in line at Target and some lady in front of us said that the people in the parking lot tried to come in while the others from the line were walking in.  She said that some man shoved a lady for trying to cut in and then she shoved him back.  My goodness.  People get crazy acting about this stuff.

Our third stop was Shoe Carnival.  They had their Clarks clogs on sale for $30.  I’ve had mine for about 5 years and they have been the best shoes.  It was certainly time for another pair.  I got an additional $5 off with the coupon from the flyer.  I also got my grandma’s flyer and used the other $5 coupon to get my mom a pair of the Clarks for Christmas.  Such a great deal!

Last, we headed to Sam’s Club.  I didn’t really care to go because they didn’t have anything I wanted, but I went with hubby.  Then as we were walking in, I remembered that they were serving free breakfast.  Hooray!  They had Jimmy Dean sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits, danish, cinnamon rolls, bagels and cream cheese, fruit, yogurt, coffee, juice, and water.  It was a pretty nice treat, especially for the price.

And that’s how my Black Friday shopping went.  I haven’t figured up how much I saved, but I did spend less than $200 and I got some great deals.

How’d you do?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I had no intentions of shopping tomorrow.  After all, we live out in the boonies and I’m lucky to find a decent restaurant.  I’d have to drive almost an hour to next largest city to get take advantage of Black Friday sales.  I’d almost considered signing up at Tree Hugging Family for Buy Nothing Day.  And then I did it . . . I saw the sales papers.  Oh dear. 

Hubby really likes House and Target has the season sets for around $13-14 per set.  I can get seasons 1-3 for less than $40, which is about the price of one season.  One sales paper led to another and now we’ve decided that we’re staying the night and heading out early in the morning to catch some deals. 

Hubby and I will get out by ourselves to shop while the kids sleep comfortably in their bedroom at my parent’s house.  Part of me thinks we’re a little crazy and then another part says it will be fun to get out alone and do something together.

How about you?  Are you shopping tomorrow?  Please take a second to answer in our poll to the right, or leave your comments below.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

This sale is for Friday, November 28 only.  Sorry, there is a limit of 2 sweaters and you must have this printable coupon. 

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Click here to view the doorbusters for Friday.  This link also has printable coupons for 25% off your entire purchase and 50% off one item.

On Saturday, one of the great specials is a Fiskars paper trimmer (reg $79.99) for only $29.99.  There are also printable coupons for 20% off your entire purchase and 50% off one item.

Michaels has hot buys for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Check out these deals.  Many of them are 50% off or more.

Happy saving!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

On Friday, November 28 only they are having early bird specials.  Get these items for only $5:

• The Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore (reg $14.99)
• Veggie Tales dvd, The Wonderful Wizard of Ha’s (reg $8.97)
• Facing the Giants dvd (reg $14.98)
• Christmas stuffed dog with scarf, Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (reg $10)

Two day sale items:

• Hermie and the High Seas dvd $5
• Amazing Grace dvd $7.99
• Michael W. Smith cd, A New Hallelujah $7.99
• Chronological Study NKJV Study Bible $19.99
• The Word of Promise: Next Generation NT, ICB $19.99
• Cast of Characters by Max Lucado

Other sales:

• Diamond Rio Christmas cd $5
• The Promise of Christmas cd $2.99
• One Incredible Moment by Max Lucado $5
• One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham $5
• Really Woolly Christmas dvd $5
• NIV gift Bibles $9.99
• Amazing Grace dvd $10
• Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore $10.99
• God’s Word for Students GWT $9.99
• The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado, book and dvd $7.99
• Big Bible Sticker Book $5
• Portable Electronic Bible in NIV and KJV with free case $49.99
• Love Comes Softly Box Sets by Janette Oke $25.99
• 50% off select family-friendly dvds (Saving Sarah Cain, The List, One Night with the King, The Final Inquiry, The Ultimate Gift)
• Guitar Praise game $89.99
• Buy 1 Box of Christmas Cards Get 1 Free

View the online circular.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Click here to view the sale ad.  I could go for a big tv or some living room furniture.  How about you?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy